Decorated frieze on early 20th century chimney, Washington,DC

For a Beaux Arts architect it did not matter that the decoration could not be appreciated from the passerby on Massachusetts Ave. six floors below. The juxtaposition of blank planes and decorated friezes on the chimney were about hierarchy of design and space, and about an architect saying that no matter if almost no one sees it, he controls completely the smallest details as well as the biggest issues such as massing and plan.